Senglea Athletic came from behind to beat Balzan 2-1 at the National Stadium on Friday as they registered a third win in a row to move fourth from bottom.
In fact, Senglea are now one point ahead of Mosta, three ahead of Pietà Hotspurs and nine ahead of Qormi. For Balzan, this fifth defeat leaves them seven points behind the two-joint leaders who still have a game in hand.
Balzan lacked the suspended Nenad Sljivic and Steve Pisani. Senglea also had Matias Nicolas Garcia suspended but they had Taisei Marukawa, Arian Mrsulja and Christian Sammut making their debut.
Balzan had a perfect start taking the lead within the first minute when off the kick-off, Cadu entered the area and served Andrija Majdevac whose effort was deflected by a defender with Uros Ljubomirac taking the rebound and placing the ball at the back of the net.
Senglea levelled matters just past the hour when Diego Venancio’s freekick was not held by Steve Sultana and Arian Mruslja tapped the ball home.
Vincenzo Potenza’s side took the lead on the 66th minutes. Taisei Marukawa advanced on the left before delivering a cross; Ricardo Correa clearersd the ball off the goal line but Augusto Rene Caseres placed the ball at the back of the net.
BALZAN Steve Sultana, Justin Grioli (64′ Alfred Effiong), Aleksandar Kosoric, Steve Bezzina, Paul Fenech, Uros Ljubomirac, Elkin Serrano Valero, Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes, Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte, Andrija Majdevac, Milos Lepovic.
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Dale Camilleri, Zak Grech, Michael Johnson, Neil Frendo, Sean Cipriott.
Coach: Marko Micovic
Asst. Coach: Velibor KopunovicSENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Taisei Marukawa, Zachary Cassar, Leighton Grech, Gonzalo Julian Leyton, Romulo Silva Santos, Braian Alexis Volpini (60′ Karl Cutajar), Diego Venancio, Augusto Rene Caseres (80′ Gary Camilleri), Arian Mrsulja, Christian Sammut (88′ Matthew Bartolo).
Subs not used: Zach Valletta, Luke Scorfna, Rayson Vella, Carsten Dimech.
Coach: Vincenzo Potenza
Asst. Coach: Darren Anton VellaReferee: Etienne Mangion
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Eman Grech
Yellow Cards: Fenech, Grech, Majdevac, Kosoric, Serrano
BOV Player of the Match: Taisei MarukawaAttendance: 189